“Thank you for coming,” I said, reaching out to hug him.
He hugged me back tightly.
“It’s been a long time,” he mumbled. “I assume you’re keeping my old man in line.”
“Sometimes,” I said, pulling away.
He nodded tightly. I wasn’t sure what he thought about Klaus and me. Klaus didn’t discuss it, and I didn’t ask.
“Where are we scurrying off to tonight?” Levin asked.
“Um, I need to see my brother.”
He groaned and closed his blue eyes. “Fucking Church? That’s the last goddamn place I want to go.”
“You can leave me there. He will make sure I get back?—”
“Not happening. If I’m with you, then I’m with you. My old man will kill my ass if something happens to you. Come on, troublemaker.” He grunted and gestured for me to follow him. I did, and we got into the elevator and headed down to the lobby.
“Klaus said you’re going to be a dad. Congrats,” I said.
He smirked. “Thanks. It’s going to be… wild.”
“Well, you’re not too new to it. You guys have the other kids.”
“Full house,” he muttered. “Drive me fucking nuts. I woke up the other day to my arms tied to the bedpost. Spoiler. It wasn’t the adults in the house. Saint and King strapped my ass in and held a water gun to my head and demanded chocolate cake for breakfast. Poor Vinny was strapped to a damn chair in the living room. They’d colored in marker over his face. He’s still trying to get the shit off.”
I winced. “They’re wild, huh?”
“Wouldn’t be a king if they weren’t.” He winked at me.
“So did you give them the cake?”
He snorted as we reached the lobby. “No. I don’t negotiate with terrorists.”
I chuckled at him. He reminded me a lot of Klaus.
We made it out to his blacked-out sports car, and he opened the door for me. I slid onto the leather passenger seat, and he closed me in before getting behind the wheel.
“Did you tell anyone where you were going?” I asked as we pulled onto the street.
“Did you?” he countered.
“No.”
“We’re two peas in a pod.”
“Won’t they look for you?”
He looked over at me. “Rosalie. Won’t they look for you?”
I chewed my bottom lip nervously. “Yeah. I-I left a note on the counter in the kitchen.”
“Why didn’t you just tell them you wanted to see Church?”
“They’d have gone with me. I want to do this alone.”
“Does Church know you’re coming? Or are you just planning on showing up and waking his ass?”
